Top 25 Teams

After the 6 preliminary rounds, these were the top 25 teams at the 14th IDEA Youth Forum Karl Popper Debate Championship:

Rank	Team	Wins	Ballots	High/Low	Points
1	USA Unicorns	6	16	1,265.0	1,422.00
2	United Kingdom	5	16	1,296.0	1,457.00
3	Romania ARDOR	5	15	1,249.0	1,403.00
4	Korea KMLA	5	14	1,280.0	1,439.00
5	Israel 1	5	12	1,107.0	1,192.00
6	Israel 2	4	13	1,229.0	1,382.00
7	Bosnia&Herzegovina	4	12	1,234.0	1,384.00
8	Russia St.Pete 1	4	12	1,219.0	1,373.00
9	Belarus	4	12	1,216.0	1,365.00
10	Lithuania 3	4	12	1,192.0	1,341.00
11	Macedonia	4	12	1,189.0	1,340.00
12	Korea KYGD	4	11	1,240.0	1,394.00
13	Lithuania 2	4	11	1,235.0	1,391.00
14	Lithuania 1	4	10	1,237.0	1,389.00
15	Korea SIS	4	10	1,236.0	1,387.00
16	Romania-Pache	4	10	1,200.0	1,351.00
17	Slovakia	3	11	1,222.0	1,374.00
18	Mixed 3 Korea-UK	3	11	1,186.0	1,336.00
19	South-Africa	3	10	1,257.0	1,414.00
20	USA Baltimore	3	10	1,243.0	1,393.00
21	Moldova	3	10	1,209.0	1,361.00
22	Mixed 2 Georgia-Korea	3	10	1,164.0	1,309.00
23	Estonia	3	10	802.00	901.00
24	Albania	3	9	1,189.0	1,338.00
25	Estonia Rapla	3	9	1,160.0	1,305.00

Top 75 Speakers

The following are the top 75 speakers from the Karl Popper Debate Championships just held in Smolyan, Bulgaria.

1	Rumen Cholakov [United Kingdom]
2	Ben Ryan [United Kingdom]
3	Cara Eckholm [USA Unicorns]
4	Hyun Woo Yoon [Korea KMLA]
5	Eun Sung Yang [Korea KMLA]
6	Hadar Tamir [Israel 1]
7	Iulian Maier [Romania ARDOR]
8	Alex Forzani [United Kingdom]
9	Yeon Hwa Lee [Korea KMLA]
10	Naama Peled [Israel 1]
11	Denaya Barnes [USA Baltimore]
12	Yasmeen Rasool [South-Africa]
13	Renita Balgobind [South-Africa]
14	Bontle Bopape [South-Africa]
15	Toader Mateoc [USA Unicorns]
16	Isabel Patkowski [USA Unicorns]
17	Ada Ziemyte [Lithuania 1]
18	Nathaniel Lee-hyun Kim [Korea KYGD]
19	Or Mastey [Israel 2]
20	Dovile Venskutonyt [Lithuania 2]
21	Shani Mastey [Israel 2]
22	Sabin Ciornea [Romania ARDOR]
23	Karen Kim [Korea SIS]
24	Rugile Stonyte [Lithuania 2]
25	Tiffany Oglesby [USA Baltimore]
26	Katarina Krasulova [Slovakia]
27	Sang Won Lee [Korea KYGD]
28	Viktoryia Bakhrutzinava [Belarus]
29	Mateja Mikulic [Bosnia&Herzegovina]
30	Belma Ibrahimovic [Bosnia&Herzegovina]
31	Joon Hun Seong [Korea KYGD]
32	Andrei Platonov [Russia St.Pete 1]
33	Rimas Andrijauskas [Lithuania 1]
34	Sarah Park [Korea SIS]
35	Christine Choi [Korea SIS]
36	Elena Isac [Moldova]
37	Merima Beslagic [Bosnia&Herzegovina]
38	Jessica Wilkie [USA Baltimore]
39	Yomyong Chung [Korea KDA]
40	Rokas Atkociunas [Lithuania 1]
41	Anton Howes [Mixed 3 Korea-UK]
42	Kseniya Halavataya [Belarus]
43	Michael Russkikh [Russia St.Pete 1]
44	Kristina Aluzaite [Lithuania 3]
45	Marko Gjorgjiev [Macedonia]
46	Rodica Raducanu [Romania ARDOR]
47	Ana Salapic [Croatia]
48	Justas Jarusevicius [Lithuania 2]
49	Dina Salapic [Croatia]
50	Won Ki Lee [Korea KDA]
51	David Svacina [Slovakia]
52	Marek Sandrik [Slovakia]
53	Noar Sahiti [Kosovo]
54	Karlo Resler [Croatia]
55	Martin Mets [Estonia]
56	Petru Claudiu Seicaru [Romania-Pache]
57	Laurentiu Balasa [Romania-Pache]
58	Gerald Elbasani [Albania]
59	Hyung Il Hahn [Korea KDA]
60	Andrei Dorofei [Moldova]
61	Sophie Vengerova [Russia St.Pete 1]
62	Besart Stavileci [Kosovo]
63	Age Tomson [Estonia]
64	Spela Zupan [Mixed 1 Isrl-Slov-S-Africa]
65	Ionela Costachi [Moldova]
66	Vivian Schreier [Germany]
67	Giedrius Zolubas [Lithuania 3]
68	Lynne Murowitz [Israel 2]
69	Ledia Pelivani [Albania]
70	Valentin Marinescu [Romania-Pache]
71	Donjeta Sahatciu [Kosovo]
72	Tetyana Kuvita [Ukraine]
73	Maryia Vovk [Belarus]
74	Joon-Sung Park [Mixed 2 Georgia-Korea]
75	Alima Zhunussova [Kazakhstan 3]

KPDC Results

The Karl Popper Debate Championships at the 14th IDEA Youth Forum concluded last night in a beautiful Roman amphitheater in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The final round featured Korea KMLA on the affirmative versus the United Kingdom on the negative. On a 4-3 decision, the United Kingdom are the newly crowned Karl Popper Debate champions. Congratulations!


Champions:

United Kingdom

Finalists:

Korea KMLA

Semifinalists:

Romania ARDOR
USA Unicorns


Quarterfinalists:

Belarus
Lithuania 2
Russia St. Pete 2
Korea KYDG


Octofinalists:

Bosnia & Herzegovina
Korea SIS
Romania-Pache
Macedonia
Israel 2
Lithuania 1
Lithuania 3
Slovakia

Congratulations to all who broke into elimination rounds and to Korea KMLA and the United Kingdom on a phenomenal final round. More results will be following, including the top 25 teams and top 75 speakers.

Youth Forum Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony

Click To Play

Demo Debate

Click To Play

Youth Forum '08

Hi All-

The Youth Forum begins this morning and there are lots of ways that we'll be keeping in touch with you:

1) This blog. We'll post photos, results, videos, and hilarious things.

2) IDEA Radio. From www.idebate.org you can access IDEA Radio - we'll be putting audio debates from this year's Forum up as they happen.

3) IDEA YouTube. Videos of debates will be up just as soon as we can upload them to YouTube. You can find our group on YouTube here: http://youtube.com/user/idebate

Check back to find out what we're up to.

alex and nat.

Borfest: The Onions

The most outstanding performance on Borfest ever.

Debate and Citizen Journalism Institute: EFL Track Brainstrom on Extreme Political Parties

Affirmative side


Negative side

Borfest: Sierra's Fire Balls (Poi)

Debate and Citizen Journalism Institute: After Sessions Activities

Debate and Citizen Journalism Institute:BP Debate#3

Debate and Citizen Journalism Institute: BP Debate#2

Debate and Citizen Journalism Institute: BP Debate#1

PreBorFest: Lenny Kravitz Interview

Debate and Citizen Journalism Institute: Country Expo in 30sec

Debate and Citizen Journalism Institute: First Days in 30sec

NJFL Tournament Results

The IDEA NJFL National Tournament was held at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky June 26th-29th. IDEA would like to thank all participants and volunteers involved for their help in holding a successful middle school debate tournament. Here are the results:

PUBLIC FORUM DEBATEQuarterfinalists:

AD103 – Capital Debate – Deep Singh & Niran Lakhanpal
AZ101 – Sidney Lanier – Reid Geissen & Noah Morrison
AZ106 – Sidney Lanier – Linda Oyolu & Lisa Oyolu
AZ108 – Sidney Lanier – Lavanya Sunder & Janice Maliakkal

Semifinalists:

AH101 – Fort Scott – Reed Ramsey & Baker Weilert
AZ104 – Sidney Lanier – Conrad Fuller & Brian Whitehouse


2nd Place:
AZ102 – Sidney Lanier – Gregory Ross & Joshua Coronado

1st Place:
AZ109 – Sidney Lanier – Robin Go & Jake Wheeler

PROSE
Quarterfinalists:
Ockerman – Erica Gunther - AP112
Saint Edward – Janika Raynes – AV107
Saint Mary’s Hall – Jared Naylor – AW107
Sydney Lanier – Elizabeth Zhang – AZ116
Saint Mary’s Hall – Michael Johnson – AW103
Rowan County – Cassidy Teager – AT105
Sydney Lanier – Lucy Chen – AZ115
Saint Mary’s Hall – Sam Blow – AW104
Sydney Lanier – Christine Dang – AZ117
John’s Creek – William Coleman – AJ103
Ockerman – Kristen Coomer – AP111
St. Edward – Ashley Lance (AV109)

Semifinalists:
From Sydney Lanier – Jessica Bolynn (AZ119)
From John’s Creek – Paige Thaker (AJ105)
From Russell – Fay Kanagy (AU109)
From Pike – Kell Yang Sammataro (AQ103)
From Saint Mary’s Hall – Kent Healy (AW108)
From Lee’s Summit CCS – Andi Fantauzzi (AK101)
From Bronx Prep – Antonio Brown (AC109)

PROSE Finalist:
From Ockerman Meridith Thronton
From Moreland Ridge Ryan McCrary
From St. Edward Sarah DeHarde

3rd Place:
From Bronx Prep Matt Alston
2nd Place:
From Ockerman Emily Watson
1st Place:
From Bowling Green Christian Taylor Boswell

POETRYQuarterfinalists:
From Bronx Prep - Antonio Brown (AC109)
From Bronx Prep - Jekia Brockman (AC102)
From Ockerman - Olivia McMillian (AP101)
From Woodland – Rachel Hanon (AY110)
From Pike – Sydney Bagley (AQ112)
From Bronx Prep – Marco Cunquiero (AC104)
From John’s Creek – Jill Hale (AJ111)
From Sydney Lanier – Libby Brudner (AZ120)
From John’s Creek – Rickayla Newsome (AJ110)
From St. Edward – Ashley Lance (AV109)
Semifinalists:
From Pike –Angela Lei (AQ115)
From Pike- Louisa Dallett (AQ113)
From Pike – James Hamilton (AQ114)
From Gramling Home School – Amelia Gramling (AF101)
From Ockerman – Jay Drayton (AP117)
From Ockerman – Tiffany Robinson(AP118)
From Lees Summit Community Christian School – Andi Fantauzzi (AK101)
From East Hardin – Jasmine Jones (AG108)

POETRYFinalists:
From Ockerman Gabby Cahill
From John’s Creek – P.J. Sowards
From Sydney Lanier – Drew Barkley
From Sydney Lanier – Gina Toumajian

3rd Place:From Bowling Green Christian Taylor Boswell
2nd Place:From Rowan County – Christa Iwu
1st Place:From Bronx Prep – Antonio Brown

HUMOROUSQuarterfinalists:
From Ockerman – Clay Edwards (AP107)
From John’s Creek – Mary Beth Hall (AJ102)
From Saint Edwards – Sarah DeHarde (AV102)
From John’s Creek – William Coleman (AJ103)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Kent Healy (AW108)
From Pike – Kell Yang Sammataro (AQ103)
From John’s Creek – Adda Coleman (AJ101)
From Sydney Lanier – Erik Rowley (AZ108)
From Pike – Max McGillvrary (AQ101)
From Ockerman – Gabby Cahill (AP105)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Bianca Lopez (AW110)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Ben Kellogg (AW101)

Semifinalists:
From Ockerman – Conner Moulton(AP108)
From Ockerman – Colin Waters(AP106)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Jared Naylor (AW107)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Kevin Healy (AW106)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Jonathon Broker (AW105)
From Pike – Harry Wood (AQ102)

HUMOROUS Finalists:
From St. Mary’s Jacob Fox
From Rowan County Nathan Stevens
From Sydney Lanier Drew Barkley
3rd Place:
From Brentwood Academy Bryce Prior
2nd Place:
From St. Mary’s Michael Johnson
1st. Place:
From St. Mary’s Sam Blow

Dramatic interp.Semifinalist
From Sydney Lanier – Olivia Arena (AZ111)
From Sydney Lanier – Kathy Zho (AZ114)
From St. Edwards – Sarah Powers (AV104)
From John’s Creek – Adda Coleman (AJ101)
From Pike – Max McGillivray (AQ101)
From Pike – Harry Wood (AQ102)

Finalist
From St Mary - Bianca Lopez (AW110)
From Ribet Academy Philip Dunn (AS102)
From St Mary Ben Kellogg (AW101)
3rd Place Rickayla Newsome from Johns Creek
2nd Place Rowan County Christa IWU (AT102)
1st Rowan County Luke Thaxton (AT103)

EXTEMPSemifinalists:
East Hardin – Ryan Nichols – AG101
Rowan Country – Katie Caric – AT107
Ockerman – Colin Waters – AP106
Russell – Danny Rosen – AU117
Sydney Lanier – Noah Morrison – AZ124
Sydney Lanier – Konrad Fuller – AZ126

Finalist
From Sydney Lanier – Sherri Hong
Lucy Chen
Olivia Arena

Third Place –
From Sydney Lanier – Janice Maliakkial
Second Place –
From Ockerman –Lori Lovell
First Place –
From Sydney Lanier – Reid Geissen

IMPROMPTU
Semifinals:
Pike – Mike Ippolito – AQ117
St. Edward – Sarah DeHarde – AV102
Saipan – Doyi Lee – AX106
Saipan – Anastasia Rose Schweiger – AX101
Sydney Lanier – Reid Geissen – AZ123
Sydney Lanier – Brennen Lanier – AZ133

Finalist
From Ockerman – Kristen Coomer
From Ockerman – Colin Waters
From Sydney Lanier – Gina Toumajian

Third Place –
From Ockerman – Lori Lovell
Second Place –
From Sydney Lanier – Lavanya Sunder

First Place –
From Pike – John French

ORATORY
Semifinalists:
Bronx Prep – Amber Quiones – AC108
Capital Debate – Brianna Richardson – AD103
John’s Creek – Adda Coleman – AJ101
St. Edward – Janika Raynes – AV107
Sydney Lanier – Lavanya Sunder – AZ129
Sydney Lanier – Olivia Arena – AZ110

Finalist –
From Sydney Lanier – Janice Maliakkial
From Ockerman – Olivia McMillian
From Sydney Lanier – Robin Go

Third Place -
From Ockerman – Allison Brannon
Second Place –
From Pike – Julie Moon
First Place –
Gramling Home School – Amelia Gramling

DUO
Semifinalsists:
Bronx Prep – Matt Alston & Mario Cunquiero – AC103-104
Fort Scott – Reid Ramsey & Baker Weilert – AH101-102
John’s Creek – William Coleman & PJ Sowards – AJ103-109
John’s Creek – Rikayla Newsome & Paige Thacker – AJ110-105
Pike School – Nick Gates & Harry Wood – AQ110-102
St. Mary’s Hall – Jonathan Broker & Kevin Healy – AW105-106

FINALIST
From Bronx Prep Dann’l Bowen and Manny Lindsey
From St. Mary’s Hall – Michael Johnson and Sam Blow
From Ockerman – Clay Edwards and Brianna Berry

Third Place –
From St. Mary’s Hall – Ben Kellogg and Jacob Fox
Second Place –
From St Mary’s Hall – Jared Naylor and Kent Healy
First Place –
Rowan County – Nathan Stevens and Christa Iwu

Schools of Excellence
Schools of Excellence in DebateCapitol Debate
Fort Scott
Sydney Linear

Schools of Excellence in SpeechJohn’s Creek
Ockerman
Pike
Rowan County
Saint Mary’s Hall
Sydney Lanier

Overall Schools of ExcellenceBronx Prep
Ockerman
Sydney Lanier

** All schools are listed in Alphabetical order – not in rank order.

IDEA-NJFL Partial Results #3

Advancing to HUMOROUS INTERP Semifinals:

AB101
AP106
AP108
AQ102
AT101
AW102
AW103
AW104
AW105
AW106
AW107
AZ107


Advancing to PROSE Semifinals:

AZ119
AL101
AV102
AW108
AP115
AC109
AC103
AJ105
AA101
AQ103
AU109
AP114
AK101

IDEA-NJFL Partial Results #2

Advancing to PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE Semifinals:

AH101
AZ102
AZ104
AZ109

Advancing to POETRY Semifinals:

AT102
AP117
AG108
AA101
AF101
AZ121
AC109
AP118
AJ109
AZ107
AK101
AP105
AQ113
AQ115
AQ114

IDEA-NJFL Partial Results

Advancing to DUO Semifinals:

AC103-104
AC105-106
AH101-102
AJ103-109
AJ110-105
AP107-110
AQ110-102
AT101-102
AW101-102
AW103-104
AW105-106
AW107-108

Advancing to EXTEMP Semifinals:

AG101
AP106
AP120
AT107
AU117
AZ111
AZ115
AZ123
AZ124
AZ126
AZ127
AZ128

Advancing to ORATORY Semifinals:

AC108
AD103
AF101
AJ101
AP101
AP122
AQ116
AV107
AZ111
AZ127
AZ129
AZ130

Advancing to IMPROMPTU Semifinals:

AP106
AP111
AP120
AQ107
AQ117
AV102
AX101
AX106
AZ121
AZ123
AZ129
AZ133

Advancing to DRAMATIC INTERP Semifinals:

AJ101
AJ110
AQ101
AQ102
AS102
AT102
AT103
AV104
AW101
AW110
AZ111
AZ114

IDEA-NJFL Gets Intense...

As Day 2 heats up, the competition begins to move from prelims to elimination rounds. Some highlights:

Debaters verbally spar:

Interpers interpret things:

Postings for Quarters make dreams come true:

IDEA-NJFL Under Way

The 2008 IDEA-NJFL is well under way at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. Over 250 students from around the country are competing in a variety of events: humorous, dramatic, duo, poetry, and prose interpretations, oratory, impromptu, public forum debate and extemp speaking. Each event will break to at least semifinals and several schools will receive "school of excellence" awards for advancing students to those rounds.

Pictures and results will be posted here as the event continues.

alex.

BarCamp Istanbul

You can watch Marjan's presentation about Youth Journalism that he delivered on the BarCamp



or you can download John's presentation: Citizen Journalism and Youth Media also delivered on the BarCamp.

IDEA hosted 50 students in Amsterdam at the EYS 2008

From May 4-9 the International Debate Education Association hosted 50 participants from 6 countries - Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and The Netherlands in an event called European Youth Speak: Unity in Diversity Exchange. There were only 6 countries, but at least 15 cultures were represented among this group. Each country nominated 7 students (16-21) and one university supervisor, with the emphasis on creating as diverse group as possible. AND truly, what an exchange of cultures! Pity you missed it.

On the first evening, during the icebreaking session, we started off with teaching each other the 3 most useful words in our all the languages and a survival tip for each country present. One lesson learnt for sure: in Estonia you don't hug or kiss unless you are boyfriends and girlfriends - and maybe not even then. Hint why the birth rate is so low in Estonia?! ☺

The next 2 days were devoted to transferring the set of skills needed for better communication. The trainers, Marcin and I focused the sessions on how to become more effective speakers in terms of argumentation and presentation in the international environment. We also taught the format of Legislative debate; a format of discussion we were to use on the latter 2 days to steer our discussion regarding the specific policies youth should adopt to deal with problems of various cultures living together. We also started to talk about common problems in our societies. In mixed groups we exchanged best practices how these are or how they should be treated, always bringing the real life examples and experience from our communities into the discussion.

On the second night we exchanged also many things with the city of Amsterdam. The Dutch participants first took us to the concert on Museumsplein and then showed us the true multicultural face of Amsterdam guiding us through the dodgy corners in the opposite direction from the Hostel in the middle of the night. On the third night we hosted a heated debate on whether religious symbols should be shown in public institutions as part of the Project Stranger. The debate was very tight and in the end, it was the team affirming the resolution that won the hearts and minds of the public and thereby the debate.

The next 2 days were devoted to heated discussions on policies. The ultimate goal was to produce a common statement - resolution of the participants attending the European Youth Speak Conference. Additionally each country was to come up with a national action plan that was feasible for the participants to carry out. These national action plans were then presented in the final discussion called Youth-to-Youth Exchange, the highlight event of the daily program. The national delegations fought for the main prize - 200 EUR to help with launch of their project. The Estonian idea of a exchange of students between the Russian and Estonian families (which btw could be surely well commercialized as a next reality show on the Estonian national TV) won the main prize. The closing speech was done by Rogier Elshout, the National Youth Council Representative for European Affairs, who made remarks on the national action plans and advised the young participants how to make the plans even better by adopting more local and participatory approach. It could be best summarized by a quote from his speech “go and talk to the people; ask them what they need and develop the project with them, not for them!”.

The highlight of the evening program was surely the Hyde Park – Speakers’ corner event taking place on the forth night in the Oosterpark. Each of the participants had the chance to be critically evaluated by their peers on their vision of multicultural Europe using the 'format' of speakers' corner – there are no rules apart from time limit! The event was moderated by Bahram Sadeghi and the closing speech was delivered Jelena Jakulj, Policy Officer Access Croatia, who reflected upon the performance and the ideas of the speakers.

The participants’ differences in attitudes and feeling of being strange that was visible at the beginning slowly faded away and was lessened through the discussion and talks through the sessions during the day or in the evening. Hence, mission completed and see more of you next year!

For more photos, click here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/marczaleski/EYS?authkey=eDmkIv
http://picasaweb.google.nl/winnie.terra/IDEANL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20964524@N02/sets/72157604997063419/
thanks Marcin, Winnie and Sergiu!

IDEA Visits the Daegu American Corner

On May 28, IDEA visited the American Corner in Daegu, Korea to conduct a debate training for any interested community members. The American Corner program is an initiative of the US State Department and gives educational outreach and resources in English to people around the world. In addition to the Daegu American Corner, the US Embassy in Korea sponsors one in Busan and one in Gwangju.

Ranging from university-aged to 77 years old, the group was certainly an enthusiastic and eclectic one! In addition to discussing the concept of debate and what sorts of things make for a good debate, each participant crafted a public speech on a topic of their choosing. Each person's initial argument was deconstructed by fellow participants and returned to him/her, which enabled each speaker to respond effectively to criticisms of his/her beliefs.

Topics discussed ranged from President Lee Myung Bak's plan to construct a large canal across Korea to methods of English education to whether pets should be allowed to live with people in apartments to the merits of test-taking. Most people in the group wanted to share their speeches in the supportive and engaged environment of the Daegu American Corner. IDEA looks forward to working with US Embassy education programs in the future!

ITOC Results

Congratulations to our ITOC Champions, Jonny Carson and Iqbal Kassam, from West Point Grey Academy! Jonny and Iqbal beat semi-finalists, Alex Bores and Jon Lee from Hunter College High School, in an oh-so-close 3-2 decision (yes, 3-2!) for the final round of the ITOC. The topic was, "The UN should invite more members into the nuclear family." Both teams debated well in this final round.

Congratulations to the following Quarterfinalist teams:
Frankie Cena and Carol Kwon (Burnaby Mountain Prep)
Steven Carr and Lucy Chiang/David Nguyen (Fairmont Prep Academy)
Jon Lee and Alex Bores (Hunter College High)
Josiah Miller and Kenneth Hall (Silverton High)
Kehl Van Winkle and Zach Johnston (Sprague High)
Jonny Carson and Iqbal Kassam (West Point Grey Academy)
Sean Husband and Helenaz Hajifattahi (West Point Grey Academy)
Rafael Baptista and Chris Axtman (Westview High)

IDEA would like to thank all of the schools who participated in this tournament and helped to make it a success. Between great debating, hot weather, a LOT of ice cream, and some serious, competitive soccer, it was a fun weekend. We hope to see you at Willamette University for the 2009 International Tournament of Champions!

A Note From IDEA ITOC Participants

Live from the IDEA ITOC!
Right now we are sitting watching the exciting semifinals round between an American team and a Canadian team. It is on the controversial topic of pornography and is quite heated—literally as well as metaphorically. It’s 90 degrees outside! The ITOC has attracted debaters from all over the world, from New York to Canada to the Philippines. Throughout the tournament, we’ve debated a wide selection of topics ranging from music piracy rights, to taxing plastic bags, to the merits of anarchy as opposed to oppressive government.

The tournament is running on an extremely efficient schedule. All the rounds have started on time, which is a miracle for a debate tournament! 21 teams competed this year, and in between the debate rounds, we have all had a chance to get to know each other and relax on the beautiful Willamette campus. Despite the “no heckling” rule, the debate rounds have been witty, entertaining and intelligent. There have been many successful night-time activities as well—such an intense game of soccer and an ice cream social.

So far, the semifinal round has addressed several contentious issues surrounding pornography, such as hate crime, freedom of speech and feminism. Neither of the teams has ever competed in American parliamentary before which makes the round especially exciting. Check back later for updates on who wins!